Adoption: Looked-after Children

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether local authorities are expected to achieve targets in respect of children adopted from the care system; and, if so, what these targets are.

Lord Adonis: The Government have set targets for local authorities to increase the numbers of children who are adopted from care. The current target is to increase by 40 per cent the number of looked-after children who are adopted by 2005 and to exceed this by achieving, if possible, a 50 per cent increase by 2005–06, from 1999–2000.
	The Government have also set a target to increase to 95 per cent by 2004–05 the proportion of looked-after children placed for adoption within 12 months of the decision that adoption is in the child's best interests, up from 81 per cent in 2000–01, and to maintain this level up to 2006.
	Local authorities may also choose to set their own local "stretch" targets for adoption under the local public service agreements (LPSA) scheme at levels beyond the current national target.

Asylum Seekers: Bail

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that unrepresented applicants for bail who are detained under immigration control have effective access to Home Office bail summaries in seeking bail.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All bail applicants are provided with a copy of the Home Office bail summary prior to the bail hearing. Where the applicant is represented a copy is provided to the representative and where the applicant is unrepresented a copy is sent to the applicant. Immigration judges will afford lesser evidential weight to summaries that do not reach an unrepresented applicant promptly or may even choose to exclude them.

Avian Flu

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 14 October (WA 106) and his reply on 18 October (Official Report, cols. 674–77), on what assumption on the timing of the onset of an avian flu pandemic they base their figure of "at least 50,000 deaths" in the United Kingdom, as stated by the Lord Warner on 17 October (Official Report, col. 566); and whether their purchase of 14.6 million courses of antivirals will prove adequate, given that they will not be fully available until September 2006.

Lord Warner: The estimates and contingencies referred to in the Question relate to a possible flu pandemic among humans, not avian flu, which is a disease which primarily affects birds.
	The estimate of "at least 50,000" deaths arising from a possible human flu pandemic is based on the case fatality for seasonal flu and experience from the 1957 pandemic. A pandemic strain could be more severe but the severity of the disease is expected to be reduced by treatment with antivirals. This is why we have purchased 14.6 million antivirals to treat the 25 per cent of the population that may become ill in a pandemic. The estimate is thus independent of the timing of the onset of a flu pandemic.
	In September 2005, we published a framework for the storage and distribution of the antiviral stockpile. This framework takes into account that we may need to prioritise antivirals if a pandemic emerges before our stockpile is complete in September 2006. The World Health Organisation has identified the United Kingdom as one of the best prepared countries in the world.

Avian Flu

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made of possible fatalities in Wales arising from an avian flu pandemic.

Lord Warner: Avian influenza rarely affects humans and hence it is unlikely to cause significant numbers of human fatalities even if there was an outbreak of avian influenza in poultry in the United Kingdom. If an influenza strain emerges which readily infects humans and is easily transmitted, this could cause a pandemic. As outlined in the UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan, we estimate that there could be a possible 2,800 excess deaths or more in Wales due to a human influenza pandemic. We are working closely with officials in the Welsh Assembly Government to co-ordinate planning for an influenza pandemic.

Avian Flu

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What disinfectants are recommended for poultry keepers, both domestic and commercial, to increase protection against the threat of avian flu.

Lord Bach: All poultry keepers are being encouraged to adopt the biosecurity measures that are outlined on the Defra website. An essential part of that message is the proper use of disinfectants. Those which are approved for use against avian influenza are listed on the Defra website at www.defraweb/animalh/diseases/control/testing-disinfectants.htm and in particular the following document contains a list of disinfectants approved for use in England against avian influenza which are listed in the column headed "for use in respect of the diseases of poultry order" (www.defraweb/animalh/diseases/control/disinfectants-englandonly.pdf).

Biomass Task Force

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to Sir Ben Gill's taskforce report on biomass.

Lord Bach: The Government are considering the recommendations of the Biomass Task Force and have committed themselves to publishing a full response to the report within the next six months.

British Consulate, Istanbul

Lord Strathclyde: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House all documents relating to the decision not to restore the church and churchyard of St Helena's at the British Consulate in Istanbul after its destruction by al-Qaeda bombing; and, if not, what are the reasons for withholding these documents.

Lord Triesman: No decision was taken not to repair the chapel. Following the November 2003 bomb, we gave priority to the security, repair and restoration of Pera House, the building accommodating the majority of staff of the Consulate-General. Planning is now under way for the repair of the chapel of St Helena's.

British Overseas Citizenship

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 25 October (WA 170) on British overseas citizenship, to whom the parents should write for such a case to be considered; what information they should provide; and whether they will provide examples of the types of evidence that have been accepted in the past.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Parents should write to the Nationality Enquiries Team at PO Box 306, Liverpool L2 0QN supplying details of their citizenship or status. More precise advice about what would be required will be provided on a case-by-case basis. These cases arise only rarely and are not separately recorded. Obtaining examples could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Council Tax

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they estimated how many properties would have gone up one or more council tax bands if they had not postponed the council tax revaluation in England; and, if so, what is that estimate.

Baroness Andrews: The number of properties moving bands would have depended on the banding structure that would have accompanied the revaluation.

Court Fees

Lord Ackner: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 20 October (Official Report, col. 878), who made the decision to recover from civil litigants the costs of court administration in 1992; after what, if any, consultation; and what documents were relied upon in making that decision.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It has been the policy of successive governments, at least since the 1920s, that the costs of court administration should be defrayed by litigants' fees.
	Over time, the range of costs taken into account when setting fees has varied. In 1992, the government of the day decided that—in line with general government fee-charging policy—court fees should be set to reflect the full cost of providing the service. This meant including for the first time the salaries of the full-time, senior judiciary (circuit judges and above) paid directly from the Consolidated Fund.
	The cost of district judges (formerly registrars) and fees paid to part-time deputy judges has long been met from court fees.
	This decision was not subject to consultation.

Croatia: Visa Regime

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 October (WA 153), whether other member states of the European Union operate visa regimes in relation to Croatia.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: All EU member states plus Norway and Iceland, with the exception of the UK and Ireland, operate a common visa policy which determines the short stay visa policy towards non-EU citizens. This common visa policy places nationals of Croatia on a visa exempt list. Croatian nationals are not required to obtain visas for travel to Ireland.

Croatia: Visa Regime

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 October (WA 153), what is the nature of the immigration threat from the nationality concerned, in relation to Croatia.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Croatian visa regime was introduced in 1999 to stem the rising number of asylum applications in the UK being received from Croatian nationals: there were 150 applications for asylum from nationals of Croatia in 1997, 335 in 1998 and 1,780 in 1999. It has clearly been effective in its objective as the number of asylum seekers from Croatia has fallen significantly: there were 115 applications for asylum from Croatian nationals in 2000, 35 in 2001, 35 in 2002, 15 in 2003, five in 2004 and one or two applications in the first half of 2005. All visa regimes are kept under review and introduced, or lifted, on the basis of immigration need. When considering removing an existing visa requirement we must ensure that any favourable change to the immigration threat from the nationality concerned is sustainable. I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I provided on 24 October (Official Report, WA 153) in which I made clear that the visa regime on Croatian nationals is the subject of ongoing review and we will lift the visa regime at the earliest possible time.

Elections: Sanctions

Viscount Waverley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will apply sanctions against governments and individuals in a position of authority in those states where elections were deemed not to have been free and fair by professional election monitors.

Lord Triesman: The Government have applied sanctions against certain governments and individuals in situations where there have not been free and fair elections, such as the EU sanctions against Zimbabwe and Burma. The Government believe that the lack of a free and fair election constitutes an important element in the case for sanctions and that election monitors play a crucial role in providing information on how elections are conducted. Other elements which the Government take into account when considering sanctions include broader failures on the part of the target state and individuals to address good governance, human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Government Buildings: Disposal

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the present policy for the sale of Government buildings in (a) England; (b) Northern Ireland; (c) Wales; and (d) Scotland.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Government have accepted the recommendations of Sir Michael Lyons' report Towards Better Management of Public Sector Assets, and has set an objective of £30 billion of asset disposals by 2010.
	Budget 2005 reported that all departments have been asked to develop asset management strategies that are driven by their business plans, are the responsibility of finance directors, and are considered and approved at board level. Departments will ensure that there are sufficient incentives at business unit level to manage and, where they are no longer necessary for business planning, to dispose of assets.
	Devolved administrations are responsible for the management of their own assets.

Hepatitis B

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy with regard to vaccination against hepatitis B.

Lord Warner: Hepatitis B immunisation is recommended for individuals who are at increased risk for hepatitis B because of their lifestyle, occupation or other factors such as close contact with a case or carrier. Guidance on immunisation against hepatitis B is available on the Department of Health's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/30/12/04073012.pdf.
	The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation is reviewing the national hepatitis B immunisation programme to assess whether it needs to be altered.

Hospital-Acquired Infections

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the latest year for which figures are available, how many cases of hospital-acquired infection in England were associated with the use of urinary catheters.

Lord Warner: Information on the number of cases of catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) is not collected centrally.
	As catheterisation allows the entry of bacteria into the bladder, it frequently causes colonisation rather than infection. Consequently, assessments of CAUTIs based on bacterial numbers in urine rather than bacterial numbers and clinical symptoms will overestimate infection rates. However, it is estimated that 80 per cent. of urinary tract infections (UTIs) are associated with catheterisation and up to 5 per cent. of UTIs develop into blood stream infections (bacteraemias) 1 .
	1 National Audit Office: Improving patient care by reducing the risk of hospital acquired infection: a progress report, The Stationery Office, 2004.

Indian Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Home Office Nationality Instructions (paragraph 7 of annex H to chapter 14) refer to the date 1 November 2004, when central government of India notification number SO1325(E) appoints 3 December 2004 as the day on which the provisions of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003 shall come into force; and whether any British national has been granted overseas citizenship of India.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Section 1(2) of the Indian Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2003 provided that the provisions of the Act could be implemented on different dates. Our understanding is that the insertion of Section 7A into the Indian Citizenship Act 1955 (provision for acquisition by registration of overseas citizenship of India) had effect from 1 November 2004, but has since been temporarily suspended. We await further advice from the Indian authorities as to the effects of the other provisions in the 2003 Act. We do not know—and would not expect to be informed by the Indian authorities—whether any British nationals have yet been registered as overseas citizens of India.

Information Security: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Minister has responsibility for information security in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Bach: The various aspects of information security are covered within the business continuity and resilience responsibilities of the Minister of State (Climate Change and the Environment) and my own responsibilities for departmental administration.

Information Security: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which Minister has responsibility for information security in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Baroness Andrews: Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is responsible for information security in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Joint Combat Aircraft

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the Rafale multi-role fighter variant as an alternative to the Joint Strike Fighter.

Lord Drayson: In reaching the joint combat aircraft selection decision, we assessed a number of options including Rafale. Our judgment was, and remains, that the Joint Strike Fighter best meets United Kingdom requirements.

NHS Dentistry

Lord Colwyn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the reply by the Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 13 October (Official Report, cols. 410–12), in what form information will be made available to patients explaining the new dental patient charges; and how much funding they have allocated to this campaign.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health will produce an information leaflet for patients and a poster to explain the proposed new system of patient charges for dentists to display in their surgeries. The funding for this campaign has not yet been finalised.

NHS Dentistry: Wales

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many patients are served by National Health Service dentists in each local authority area in Wales.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The number of patients registered with a dentist for NHS treatment in each local authority at 30 September 2005 is as follows.
	
		
			 Local Authority Total Number ofPeople Registered 
			 Anglesey 25,142 
			 Gwynedd 33,348 
			 Conwy 43,655 
			 Denbighshire 60,753 
			 Flintshire 48,364 
			 Wrexham 50,734 
			 Powys 62,895 
			 Ceredigion 21,372 
			 Pembrokeshire 26,890 
			 Carmarthenshire 49,676 
			 Swansea 164,204 
			 Neath Port Talbot 74,903 
			 Bridgend 77,668 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 48,506 
			 Cardiff 167,576 
			 Rhondda Cynon Taff 131,822 
			 Merthyr Tydfil 24,386 
			 Caerphilly 98,146 
			 Bleanau Gwent 37,656 
			 Torfaen 44,268 
			 Monmouthshire 42,929 
			 Newport 76,681 
			 Total 1,411,574 
		
	
	Source: Dental Practice Board

NHS Information Strategy

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they have made on the development of the information accreditation scheme proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health; and
	What progress they have made on the development of power questions as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health; and
	Where power questions, as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health, will be piloted; and
	What progress they have made on the development of information prescriptions as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health; and
	Where information prescriptions, as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health, will be piloted.

Lord Warner: Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health is a three-year programme to improve information to people, so they can make better choices and better manage their own health.
	In the first year, the Department of Health is considering ways to deliver the proposals within the strategy for:
	an information accreditation scheme;
	power questions; and
	information prescriptions.
	We will identify pilot sites for power questions and information prescriptions once suitable models have been developed.

NHS Information Strategy

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on copying letters to patients, as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health; and
	How many patients have benefited from the copying of letters to patients initiative, as proposed in the National Health Service information strategy, Better Information, Better Choices, Better Health.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health does not collect information on the number of patients who have benefited from the initiative. However, the 2005 primary care trust patient survey results, published by the Healthcare Commission, included a new question which asked patients who had been referred to a specialist within the past year whether they had received copies of their letters. Around 40,000 patients responded to this question.
	After excluding people who did not want to receive letters, or who could not remember, 22 per cent. said they had received copies of all letters. A further 8 per cent. had received copies of some letters.
	The department will shortly publish a toolkit to support implementation of the copying of letters to patients initiative. This will supplement the established guidance that the department has already published.

NHS Pension Scheme

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the valuation by the Government Actuary of the NHS Pension Scheme as at 31 March 2003; and, if they are not currently able to publish it, what are the reasons for the delay.

Lord Warner: The valuation of the National Health Service Pension Scheme as at 31 March 2003 will be published as part of the NHS Pension Scheme resource accounts in January 2006. This valuation was undertaken solely for the purpose of the Financial Reporting Standard 17 accounting standard. The next full valuation of the NHS Pension Scheme is due for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2004. It is usual, in valuing a scheme comprising almost 2 million active deferred and pensioner members, that the data validation processes are not completed until well after the end of the valuation period.

NHS Pension Scheme

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who bears the costs of the NHS Pension Scheme in respect of NHS employees who are transferred to companies outside the NHS under private finance initiative schemes.

Lord Warner: Companies under the private finance initiative are required to provide broadly comparable pension arrangements. Staff transferred outside the National Health Service can transfer their accrued pension rights to the new company or leave their accrued rights in the NHS Pension Scheme.

Prisons: Chaplaincies

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 October (WA 162), what area in square metres is provided for chaplaincies in the men's and women's sides of HM Prison Peterborough and in HM Prison Bronzefield respectively.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: An area of 293 square metres is provided for the chaplaincy on both the male and female sides of HMP Peterborough. An area of 328.6 square metres is provided for the chaplaincy at HMP Bronzefield. These figures include all worship areas and the chaplain's office.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are taking to combat the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases among teenagers and to provide speedy and effective treatment for those infected.

Lord Warner: The Choosing Health White Paper highlighted sexual health as one of the three key public health priorities for action. We are now implementing the commitments in the White Paper in the context of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV which includes the key aim of reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Young adults and teenagers have been identified as a priority group for action.
	Early next year we will be launching the country's biggest ever £50 million sexual health campaign which will target young adults who are most at risk. Other measures include setting a target of access to genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics within 48 hours by 2008 backed by investment of £145 million. Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities have already developed plans on how they will meet the target of 48 hour access to GUM through the local delivery planning process.
	We are also investing £80 million to accelerate coverage of the chlamydia screening programme to cover the whole of England by March 2007. This world-leading programme will offer annual screening to all sexually active people aged under 25.

Smoking in Public Places

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total number of responses received to the Department of Health consultation on the smoke-free elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill; what proportion supported the White Paper proposals to exempt licensed premises and members' clubs; and what proportion supported smoke-free legislation without such exemptions.

Lord Warner: We received over 57,000 responses to the consultation on the smoke-free elements of the Health Bill; and we intend to publish a summary of the results shortly.
	Copies will be placed in the Library.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they are making during the United Kingdom presidency of the European Union to the government of Sudan to allow Canadian technicians to deliver the 105 Grizzly armoured personnel carriers donated by Canada to the African Union Mission in Sudan, and to train African Union personnel in the use of the vehicles.

Lord Triesman: I raised the issue of delivery of the 105 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) donated by Canada to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) with the Sudanese Government during the EU Troika visit to Sudan on 8 October 2005. UK officials have also raised this matter with the government of Sudan in a number of other forums.
	At the meeting of the Joint Cease Fire Commission between the international community, AMIS and the parties to the conflict in Darfur, the Sudanese Government stated that they will give permission for the African Union to deploy the APCs it thinks it will need on the ground. The government of Sudan will be holding a meeting with the AU and Canada to resolve the remaining issues in the near future. We continue to press the government of Sudan to ensure that no other bureaucratic obstacles delay the swift delivery of these vehicles.

Trafficked Women and Children

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What protection and respite care facilities they are offering to trafficked women and children; and what plans they have to expand these facilities.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In March 2003 a small scale Home Office-funded pilot scheme was launched in partnership with Eaves Housing for Women to provide safe accommodation and one-to-one support for adult women who have been trafficked into the UK to work as prostitutes. The scheme has recently been formally evaluated and overall findings were positive on the model and quality of support provided. A copy of the summary findings from the evaluation can be obtained from www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html. The full evaluation report is currently being considered and decisions about the future scope and nature of support will be made in light of its findings. It is recognised that child victims of trafficking are likely to be in need of welfare services and protection under the Children Act. Local authorities have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need by providing a range and level of service appropriate to each child's needs.

Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made representations to the government of Turkey over the fines levied on Kurds for using the letters "Q" and "W" in their written statements.

Lord Triesman: We have not made specific representations following the fines levied on 20 Kurds in late October for using the letters "Q" and "W" on placards. However, we continue to urge the Turkish Government to ensure the consistent implementation of reforms passed to guarantee freedom of expression and cultural rights for all citizens, and have stressed on a number of occasions the need for the 1928 Law on the Adoption and Application of Turkish Letters to allow the use of the letters "Q" and "W" to be amended.

Wales: Agricultural Workers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the total number of persons employed as agricultural workers in Wales in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2004.

Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: The information requested is set out in the table below.
	
		
			 Year Regular workers Seasonal workers Salaried managers(a) Principal farmers,partners and directors(b) Total 
			  Whole time Part time 
			 1950 37,857(c)   11,406 n/a n/a 49,263 
			 1960 26,262 5,816 6,594 n/a n/a 38,672 
			 1970 13,546 3,775 5,788 n/a 23,314 46,423 
			 1980 8,479 3,723 9,011 300 34,260 55,773 
			 1990 5,881 3,983 8,196 283 35,046 53,389 
			 1995 5,160 4,415 7,666 278 35,492 53,011 
			 2000 3,449 3,357 6,376 400 43,377 56,959 
			 2004 2,779 3,751 5,154 389 44,170 56,243 
		
	
	(a) distinct information relating to salaried managers was not collected until 1972.
	(b) a separate return for principal farmers, partners and directors was introduced in 1970.
	(c) the distinction between whole time and part time workers was not made until 1955.
	Source:Digest of Welsh Historical Statistics.

Wild Birds

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many quarantine facilities in England deal with wild bird imports; how many Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs inspectors there are; and how often inspections of quarantine facilities are made.

Lord Bach: There are 83 quarantine facilities that deal with such imports.
	The State Veterinary Service is responsible for inspecting such premises on behalf of Defra. The State Veterinary Service directly employs over 500 veterinary and animal health inspectors. In addition, a substantial number of vets in private practice are also appointed as inspectors to carry out this work on behalf of the Government.
	Quarantine premises are inspected prior to approval, on arrival of new quarantine consignments, during quarantine periods and prior to release of consignments. In addition, visits will also be made when unexpected illnesses or deaths occur. Ad hoc visits to quarantine premises are also made by government veterinary staff.

Wild Birds

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice they received that led them to oppose the initiative by the Belgian Environment Minister, Bruno Tobback, to halt imports of wild birds in March 2005; and whether the United Kingdom was the sole member state to oppose this initiative.

Lord Bach: A ban on imports of wild birds was raised by Belgium at the Environment Council meeting of 10 March 2005. The only other EU member to support Belgium was Hungary. The European Commission did not support a ban at that time as it could not be justified on animal health, welfare or conservation grounds. The UK, along with other member states, agreed with the European Commission assessment at that time.
	Since then both the UK and the European Commission have been monitoring changes to the global disease situation and we now agree with the European Commission that a temporary ban is appropriate.